Crawford avalanche., 1887-02-10

Miles, and Profs. X q. kedzie, Lewis
MoLDuth, w. J. Beal and H. J. RNy'
noids Of the State Agricultural Col
ledge and Board Of Agriculture were
In tire city yesterday on tileir way home
to Lansing from 6rayiing. Crawford
county, at which place on Monday eve
ming and Tuesday q Farmers Institute
was held.
1--WE had most Interesting and In
structive meeting said President
winetts TO THK CoUnIRR. "Itwas al
so the Grst institute held north of East
Saginaw" he continued, s'and was
called more especially for the benefit
of those interested in the agricultural
development of the plains the vast
sandy territory lying in Northern
Michigan. The subjects presented
were of practical everyday life on the
farm, q comparison OF methods and
exchange Of experiences"
The committee of arrangements mt
Grayling was Messrs. A. j. Rose and
o. Palmer, and both gentlemen did
their duty well, looking after the COM
fort of visitors and guests in a manner
that was very noticeable.
The institute opened at z o'clock
Monday evening with prayer by Rev.
w. II. James. The Grayling 6tee Club
then rendered pleasing selection, af-
ter which an address of Welcome was
delivered by the chairman. Addition
al music by the giee club preceded a
lecture on "The Vegetable grcwths
adapted to cold climates, " by Prof w.
i. Beai, which proved very entertain
ing and profitable. The Professor ex.
hibited noMeer of charts, showing
the growth of plants in various
climates and soils, why leaves shriveled,
veins contracted, ETC., from drought OF
cold.
On Tuesday morning number oi
papers were presented, each being fol.
lowed ty brief discussions The sub.
jects given We're: "Grain raising on
the plains" by Jacob Steckert; Root
Crops" by Thos. Loand; ''Grass and
Forage Crops" by J. g. Marsh
Corn" by N. H. Evans; ''Small
Fruits" by G. w. Loves "Plowing. y
by w. c. Johnson> "isive Stock" by
Hubbard Head. and Fruit by Alex.
Wayne, Mr.. SteckeTt was not present
at the meeting and his paper was read
by the chairman. The writer gaye
valuable information on the subject of
grein raising on the plains and present
ed statistics OF the growth of wheat
and other grain in Crawford county.
His experience had been that the first
crop on the soil was the best,
With the paper on root crops Mr.
Lound made an exhibit OF roots that
proved very interesting, and he showed
that with careful husbandry the soil
could be made to produce as fine
crops as other and more favored To-
calities. The paper ON grass and for
age crops was also instructive.
Other papers read at the session de-
VvrUped tf.v- nsov-tl1,st--o rp,--,,t.tl~s
smaliIeaeed, was firm and of good
quality. Small fruits also thrive, and
buckwheat yields fair return for la.
Dor expended. Grass grows thick and
springs early. One gentleman said his
cattle always end sufficient forage af-
ter the middle of April. FYuit trees,
it was shown, did not thrive well, the
cold blasts of winter killing many of
them, the frost piercing the trunk
above the snow like q knife. The ad-
dress on rlowing developed the inter
esting fact that excellent results are
obtained by turning under crop of
turnips. Flowing in the fall Is not
good, there being nothing to enrich
the soil. When nature had OH its robe
of green was stated to be the time.
Mr.. Johnson stated, from personal ex-
perience, that it was better to plow
two and half Inches deep than six
inches; the weeds were killed and a
greater crop of roots was raised by
shallow plowing.
In the afternoon DR.. Kedsie deliver
ed lecture OH The Agricultural
Problem of the plains.n He showed
by analysis that the soil Of the plains
naturally possessed all the necessary
ingredients for raising all manner of
crops, and In greater abundance, than
in some parts of Belgium where simi-
lar lands were worth 81, 200 per acre
for farming purposes, and that all the
soil seemed to need was the lntrodus-
ton of organic matter. The soil con-
tanned requisite properties for a quick
growth of vegetation IL properly pre-
pared. The greater nnmber Of those
settling on the plains, Mr.. kedzie said,
are lumbermen and others without
means, and they are Of necessity COM
PEELED to snbslst on tile product of
their land from the time of residence
thereon. If they could allow one year
for improving their land, success would
follow.
The discussion which ehstied was led
by DIR. Miles, his remarks showing
Il. a..s-